Nagasaki HS Social Studies Entrance Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Japan Standard Time meridian

Japan Standard Time is based on the 135°E meridian, which passes near Akashi, Hyogo. It is 9 hours ahead of UTC and the same as Korea Standard Time.

Japan's four main islands

From north to south: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the largest and contains Tokyo, Osaka, and most of Japan's population and industry.

Pacific Belt

The densely populated and industrialized corridor stretching from the Kanto region through Chubu, Kansai, and Setouchi to northern Kyushu. It holds most of Japan's population and manufacturing.

Seto Inland Sea climate

The Seto Inland Sea region has low annual rainfall because mountains on both Honshu and Shikoku block seasonal winds, creating a dry, sunny climate year-round.

Contour line spacing

On a topographic map, contour lines close together indicate a steep slope; lines far apart indicate a gentle slope. Concentric closed lines show a hill or peak.

Japan's plate boundaries

Japan lies where the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American plates meet. Subduction causes earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Map scale conversion

A scale of 1:25,000 means 1 cm on the map equals 25,000 cm, or 250 m, on the ground. At 1:50,000, 1 cm equals 500 m.

Exclusive economic zone

A coastal state may claim an EEZ extending up to 200 nautical miles from its baseline, with sovereign rights over resources. Japan has one of the world's largest EEZs.

Kamakura shogunate founding

Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura shogunate in 1192 after defeating the Taira clan. It was Japan's first warrior government, based in Kamakura.

Tokugawa shogunate founding

Tokugawa Ieyasu founded the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603 after winning the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. It governed Japan until the Meiji Restoration of 1868.

Sakoku policy

The Edo shogunate restricted foreign contact and trade, limiting it mainly to Nagasaki with the Dutch and Chinese, plus Korea, Ryukyu, and the Ainu. It lasted roughly 1639–1854.

Kanagawa Treaty 1854

Commodore Perry's arrival led Japan to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, opening Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships and ending the sakoku policy.

Meiji Restoration 1868

A political revolution that overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate and restored imperial rule under Emperor Meiji, launching rapid industrialization, conscription, and Western-style reforms.

Meiji Constitution 1889

Promulgated in 1889 and effective in 1890, it created a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral Diet but kept sovereignty with the emperor and limited civil rights.

Article 9 of the Constitution

The 1947 Constitution's Article 9 renounces war as a sovereign right and the threat or use of force, and prohibits maintaining land, sea, and air forces.

Heian aristocratic culture

Heian-period culture centered on the imperial court in Kyoto, producing works such as The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book, written in kana by court women and nobles.

Plaza Accord 1985

A 1985 agreement among major economies to depreciate the US dollar against the yen. The yen surged, hurting Japanese exports and contributing to the later bubble economy.

Primary vs secondary sources

Primary sources are original materials such as diaries, official records, and artifacts from the period. Secondary sources interpret them later, like textbooks and histories.

Three principles of Constitution

Japan's Constitution rests on popular sovereignty, fundamental human rights, and pacifism. These principles are reflected in the Preamble and Articles 1, 11, and 9.

House of Representatives term

The House of Representatives has 465 members serving four-year terms. It can be dissolved by the Cabinet, and it holds superiority over the House of Councillors.

House of Councillors term

The House of Councillors has 248 members serving six-year terms, with half elected every three years. It cannot be dissolved and lacks budget superiority.

Prime Minister selection

The Prime Minister is designated by a resolution of the Diet from among its members, then formally appointed by the Emperor. The Prime Minister appoints the Cabinet.

Cabinet collective responsibility

The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Diet. If the House of Representatives passes a no-confidence motion, the Cabinet must resign or dissolve the House.

Judicial review

The Supreme Court holds the power to review laws and government acts for constitutionality, modeled on US judicial review. Lower courts may also rule on constitutionality.

Saiban-in lay judge system

Japan introduced the lay judge system in 2009. Six lay judges join three professional judges to decide guilt and sentencing in serious criminal trials.

GDP expenditure formula

Gross domestic product by expenditure equals consumption plus investment plus government spending plus net exports (exports minus imports). It measures domestic output.

Consumer price index

The CPI tracks price changes of a basket of goods and services over time. It measures inflation or deflation and is used to adjust wages and pensions.

Japan's aging rate

The share of the population aged 65 and over exceeds 29%, the highest among major economies. It raises pension, medical, and long-term care costs.

Correlation vs causation

Correlation means two variables move together; causation means one causes the other. A third variable or reverse causation may explain a correlation, so controls are needed.

Population pyramid shapes

A pyramid shape indicates high birth and death rates; a bell shape indicates stable population; an urn shape indicates low birth rates and an aging, shrinking population.

Current account components

The current account equals the trade balance plus services, primary income, and secondary transfers. Japan shifted from surplus to deficit after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear shutdown.

Per-capita comparison

Dividing a total by population yields a per-capita value, allowing fair comparison between countries of different sizes. It avoids bias from population differences.